Full of Days

I turned 49 this year. I’m now older than my mentor Pastor Wayne was when I first met him, and my daughter Jeni is as old as I was when I first married Jann. I had curly hair on my head then, and none in my ears, and a body that was thin as a rail, and energy that could play basketball AFTER a 5 mile run! I could clearly hear, button a button in one try, and read fine print in classifieds (the once or twice a year I actually needed to read those). I rarely napped on the couch, but a few times I wrestled, single-handedly, a couch down a flight of stairs.

What happened here?


I have gotten old. I’m not exactly sure how. Something in my midsection bulged, something in my legs slowed down. Now I run much slower, if you call it (jogging) running, and I am really sore, looking ike Quasimodo when I walk upstairs a day or two after a jog. I’ve reached that stage of life where I can no longer trust my body to do what I ask it or go where I send it.

What is "really" happening here?

I’ve been reading a blog of a Pastor/Author I have liked lately - Mark Buchanan. He recently talked of that biblical phrase, “full of days.” Here is more of what he said:

"Many of the patriarchs died full of days. Roughly, it means they were old. But it resonates beyond that. Jesus died at 33. Yet he was full of days. Stephen, the first martyr, was likely in his 20s when Paul and company stoned him to death. Yet he was full of days..... I’ve buried many old saints, but I’ve also buried 90-year-olds who I wouldn’t describe as full of days. They went to their graves bitter, nostalgic, self-absorbed, clinging to baubles and trifles. And I’ve buried young people who died tragically, because of choices that betrayed them, but I’ve also buried teenagers who died full of days. They left this world with courage and thanksgiving, radiant with hope. Being full of days is not about the duration of your life: it’s about its depth. It’s not about longevity: it’s about abundance. Its touchstone is not greyness: it’s grace."

How does this happen?

As I get older, I want full days. I am more and more committed to living the fullness of life that Jesus promised (John 10:10). I want to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. I want to hunger and thirst for righteousness and say “I love you” more times in a day than anything else. I want to stay in touch with my forever friends, forgive my enemies, and reconcile with those I have wronged along the way. I want to love God with all of who I am.

Whether I die sooner or later, I want to leave this world - "full of days". Even if, between than and now, I go slower all the way.

Pre-Trip Missions strategy

Recently, I was asked to formulate a rationale for doing pre-trips before you take a Short-Term Missions team somewhere in the country or the world. Here is what I came up with:

1. There are things that can and do happen in a partnership in ministry/short term trip that can not be anticipated by emails and phone calls.
An example of this was recently on a pre-trip to Mexico we saw the “red light” district where teenagers were going to walk with evangelistic materials and share their faith with people. As we drove down the street where scantily clad prostitutes were pursuing cars and people walking – we determined that was not a place we wanted teens to see or experience and we were grateful we could make that determination before the trip.

2. There are conversations regarding vision and strategy that can occur with Missions partners without the pressure of leading a team.
Another example – recently we were able to have conversations with a Missions partner and then tailor our short term trip to meet their needs more effectively. Instead of a clean up project we ran a program for children. I think it would have been more difficult to assess those needs and make adjustments prior to the trip without talking to them first hand and seeing the environment where they are doing ministry.

3. It is important to have research and development happen before we go to a place where Corinth has not taken a team.
We have set a precedent for this by doing pre-trips to Chicago, Newark, and Tijuana. We had built this into those trip budgets. We will not have to do this every year- unless the leadership or environment changes where we choose to send a team.

4. A lot of this has to do with our vision for missions.
That is, we're not simply relying on an agency to coordinate everything.The leaders are not just along for the ride with participants. They are part of integrating the mission vision in to the cross –cultural spiritual formation vision. Thus, we require more input than Pastors who utilize (and pay more per trip) an agency to take care of everything.

Essentially, we're saying: Before leading a large group of people somewhere, we want to scout out the land, look into our hosts' eyes, hear their heart and be sure we have the same vision for what our people are going to experience. We don’t believe you can do that without a pre-trip.

How old do you feel?

Our oldest daughter is 24 today. I woke up feeling ready to tackle a new day and wondered how old you feel? People say you are as old as you feel, so if today is an indication of that I am not much older than my daughter :).

Our weekend: Friday night was a date night meeting with the Webster's in Holland. Catching up with one of the guys that lead me to Christ and taught me early lessons on how to walk with the Lord - good times! We hope to be with them again here in the near future.
Saturday was chores and getting ready for Adoption awareness Sunday at Corinth. We are having booths from our international partners and domestic partners while praying for the families in our church that are waiting for a child. Sunday was a great time of connecting with the adoption families and agencies @ Corinth - a nap, then Life Together groups after worship with Resonate!!

Can I blog more than I did in 2006?

My goal today is to see if I can blog more than I did in 2006. I only blogged 3 times that year and nothing in 2007. I have one entry in January so I thought I might catch you up a little.

I haven't been on the treadmill much this year - but I have run most every week at least 1 time. I have an Elder at Corinth who runs and so we have been getting out 3 or 4 miles on the weekend. I also have a Youth Pastor friend who runs with me too.

I have been consistently in a book study with a man who holds me accountable in my relationship with the Lord. I am loving my wife more and more as each day passes! I have struggled to care for our girls while they are 2,000 miles away in CA.

I also have changed jobs at Corinth this year. In August, I went from directing Children and Student ministries to becoming the Pastor of Spiritual Life (mostly about small groups) and Missions. Jann and I are excited about the growth potential in these arenas of ministry and looking forward to new friendships and ministry partnerships!

I also this fall returned to the basketball court. I know for some who have known me are fearful of how this might turn out. I am praying that laying off for my 40's will have made me realize the limitations of my skill and just have fun!

I hope to return to discuss other issues as this year comes to an end.


Kev

2008 - January is Jumpin

How to summarize a month:

January 2008

• I am running again, thanks to a treadmill (NordicTrak) and hoping to do some outdoor races this year.
• I have journaled EVERYday of this month in my Upper Room journal.
• I have read/listened to 2 books this month (Blue Like Jazz & Quiet Strength)
• I have lost 12lbs! (1o more to get to my goal weight)
• I have committed to a Bible Study in the early morning (Thanks Neal)

What is your January summary look like?

New Year to Blog more???

Well another year has begun. I am hoping that 2008 will be a year that allows me to influence more people for Christ than last year!!



I have set some goals - challenged myself to write, read, run and love others deeply this year. I also may actually let others read my blog!
I am thinking about a blog for the ministry too! Let's see how this goes!